Tape-reading device



May l, 1928. 1,667,852

J. GLUCK TAPE READING DEVICE Jwlws Glu/c5),

May l, 1928.

J. GLUCK TAPE READING DEVICE gwuwfor Julius Gluck,

Patented May 1, i928.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE.

JULIUS GLUOK, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNOR, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS To OHMER FARE REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEvv YORK TAPE-READING DEVICE.

Application led February l5, 1923. Serial No. 613,536.

This invention relates to a novel scale for reading record tape produced by recording devices used 'in conjunction with taxinieters.

.To that end, the invention contemplates a device Whereb the record on the tape may befread with acility by the operator of the vehicle'lto .thereby give a detailed report of each: movement of the vehicle Or eab during its working day. For example the device is .especially adapted to graphically visualize the record lines made on the tape by a `rec ording dev-ice of the type shown in my Patent 1,473,816, filedApril 18, 1922, wherein the recording mechanism makes rccord lines upon an imprinted tape.

As indicated in that case it is not always desirable to use va record tape having longitudinal ,and vertical crossing lines thereon for the reason that the vert-ical lines which are calibrated for units of time must accurately be :set with reference to, the point of theinarkingpencil at the timethe cab starts out` of the gara e. This setting iiot only presents diiiiculties but .is Aa nuisance and therefore it is desirable to use a plain unprinted tape', or a tape having only longi tudinal distance'indicating lines thereon, the time lines'being entirely omitted.'

Accordingly, a primary object of the' invention isvto provide a simple and practical vscalel device which is provided with time and distance scales so that the record On the partially printed Or imprinted tape can be readily deciphered at a glance. All cab operators keep a recordof the time that the car leaves the garage, and, when the vehicle turns in, the section of tape representing the working day may be removed from the recording device, and placed in the-present scale to be read, The operator can readily set the hour indicator to agree with the nearest hour that the cab leftthe garage, and then all subsequent movements of the cab can be readily and vgraphically visualized at a glance by superimposingthe transparent minute and distance scale Onthe tape.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable construction which permits of readily inserting and accurately adjusting the tape in a thoroughly simple and practical manner so that no particular skill is required in the adjusting and reading of the tape.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the in rcntion is better understood, the sameronsists in the novel construction, conibination :ind arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A. preferred und practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyinv drawings, in which D Figure l is a top plan view of the. present reading device and its protecting casing, the cover Of the latter being raised to expose the scale.

Figure Z is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2*2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is Sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the liiie 4-4 of Figure 1, the cover being closed.

Figure 5 is :i detail view of the slidinfy strip bearing the hour indicator. Y C

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view'of a portion of the appara-tus illustrating the application thereof.

Figure 7 is a detail view of a printed tape.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the Several figures of the drawings. As previously indicated, the recording mechanism of my Patent' 1,473,816 filed April 18, 1922, marks its record lines on a plain tape designated generally as T, the said record lines giving a complete record Of time, distance and speed. In addition to providing records of these important factors in the Operation of the cab, the said device also records the paid and unpaidwaiting time, another very important factor in 'the Operation of a cab, and which has heretofore been almost entirely out of cont-rol of the Operator.

partially In order that'the various record lines'onA Also if the flag of thc meter on the vehicle is placed in not recordingposition, as when a tire change is required, or any other reason which maltes it, improperto charge the passenger fees for which he. is not responsililc, the record lines A and it will appear siniuitancously on the tape.

ln explanation of the general c l'iaracter ol' the lines comprising the records A and B it =Z is pointed out that when the vehicle is standing still a horizontal record line is made and \\hile the cab is in motion an oblique record line njill be made. In the latter connection it is, pointed' out that the slope of the oblique line may be utilized to determine the speed of the vehicld the. greater the speed the steeper the line. A type of speed scale is shown in Figure 11 of iny atent 1,473,816. aforesaid.

The present scale device hewevei-,- is. par ticularljg intended to read the time and distance records on the tape, which, latter. as previously indicated,` is not printed or calibrated in lines oit-squares, or in other words is a, plain Strip, or ribbon without lines.

Owing to the difficulty. oi properly adjusting a previously, ruled or calibrated. tape eachtimo the vehicle starts outof the garage and other objections, it is more desirable to aseaplain unmarked tape: so that the tape never has to be adjnsted or setwhen the vehicle. leavesthe. g 1;r age,A although as indicateda; partially printed. tape. may be used. It is therefore very desirable to use a tape which, when reinovedl from the recording device, may be adjusted with easeand facility.inthe-presentreading devicefto give the de'siredniformatom Referring now more particularly, to. the structural features andicharacteristics .of the invention it will be observed that the. same preterably-includes a housingfor. casing com prisinga. body 1,. and. a cover. 2 hinged thereto.

generally as whenthe cover is closed.

In its primary aspect the readirvr scale proper includes a: uideway. G through Whiclnthetape, Ti mayv efpassedor threaded;

a timescale designated: generally as T2' at olwideof the guidon-ayt and; inoludingan adjustable -lioan indicator and, the-minute scale M; and the guideway G having superimposed thereon a transpa rent distance scale Disnitably-callbrated toc pro-ject the minute readings ontoand across lines representing fractions of ailmile The above essential elements are ofcoursc` susceptible to.A different formsV of. embodiment, but, according to apreferred and pjra c ticalexainple shown in the drawings, thesaid scalest includes abody 4 having thcref onthespaced lugsor pins.5, which forin part of a guideway G for thel tape, and also having therein a groove 6 for accommodating the sliding or adjustable strip 7 bearing an roteeting the scale designatedhour indicator H, the said strip being heh! in position by a mask or facing plate 8 which is provided with regularly spaced openings 9 to expose the figures on the hour indicator in proper sequence. Sai-d. body 4 of the scale is preferably held to a suitable base l() secured within the housing l by the screws 1l or other fasteuings, and the transparent distance scale D hinged at the rear edge ot' the base 1U.

The distance scale D preferably comprises a frame 12 which is hinged to the base l0 as at 13 and a transparent Celluloid or equivalent plate-like part 14 which is provided with horizontal' and vertical' lines 1'5 and 16 respectively which form measuring squares. The long ,itudinallines 15 are spaced to represent Mg'th of a mile so that the total" distance across the scale will be one mile ('onehalf mile being the distance adapted' to be travelled by each pencil' of the recording device) while the vertical or crosswise lines 16 register with the numerals of the minute scale M toA represent 5 minute periods' in the time scale T". Thisis clearly indicated in Figure 1 where the said vertical or crosswise lines between each of the openings 9 are projected to read on numeral'scorresponding to each 5 minutes in the hour..

In! connection with the transparent distance scale D. and the-spaced lugs or pins 5, it, will be. observed that the said transparent part 14; is provided with openings 14 through which the lugsl -project to insure the proper closing or fittingof the transparent cover-like member. 14 onto the. baseV 4'. Furthermore hyA reason. of the interlocking of the lugs with tlietransparent plate 14', the tapeispropcrl l positioned and held flat in the guideyva'ysoV that it may be readily moved or ad"usted beneath the scale marks 15 and, 16.

Referring-to then'ianner in which thc present reading device is used it may be pointed outthat when the cab finishes its trip or run thetape, T` is removed fromthe recording device, and, as shown in Figure 3, the unprinted tape bearingthe earned fare record A. and thev idle; cruising record- B may be placedn the guideway- G, that i`sbetvreen thev lugs 5 whlle the couver-liketransparentdistanceA scale D`- remains elevatedl 'This cover Dv is thenA lo\.\'ercd or closedso that the lugs, registei-witli thc holes lllthus holding the tape flat andsmoothbeneathl the. transparent. scale D...` The strip' 7 bearing the hour indicator H may t-henlbe Sh'iftod in the channel 6 so that the noaresthour preccdingthe time when the cab lefttliegarage Willoappear in theextrenie right hand opening 9 of the face plate. For example, the numeral 8 as shown in Eigiue. Gol' the draw-ings.

`With the tape positioned'as shown in Figure 6 the same may be read as follows:

. cab. i traveled with a As previously indicated all taxicab operators keep as part of their record the time each cab leaves the garage.

In the example given t-he car left the garage at .8.22. Therefore, the start of the oblique line, which indicates the first movement of the car, is set at 22 on the scale and the hour slide is set at 8 oclock. With the tape set in this way in the scale the time of every movement of the cab can he determined. Y

This particular tape shows that the car left the garage with flag up at 8.22; traveled.3 f/8.miles with only one stop of 2 minllS.'.l l.:"-' 'f 1 .At- 8.4Lthe first trip was made with flag in'A ffrecording position which is indicated by.=a;hole y being punched in the upper part of the tape, the record bein made from then on, .onrtheflower part of tie tape The passenger Z/S mile and finished the trip at 8.47.

.The cab. then traveled 1/ mile with flag up At'8.50 the second trip started and was completed at .9 oclock, the car having traveled 15/8 miles with several short stopsprobabl due vto traflic congestion.

- The ag was put up and the cab traveled '2l/8 miles? until 9.15 when the third passen- -ger was picked up. This trip inished at 9.28.; fdistance traveled 31/8 miles; no waiting-time.

:3% miles was then covered with flag up and one stop of 3 minutes from 9.34 to 9.37.

.lV-Fourth trip-started at, 9.52 and completed ati-'10.10; total distance covered 11/2 miles with-x10 minutes Waiting time-indicated by the horizontal line between 9.58 and 10.08.

From 10.10. to 10.23 the cab ran vacant and at 10.23 the next earning trip was made; the cab traveled with a passenger 1% lnile and waited for 7 minutes; it then traveled 1/2 mileandwaited for 10 minutes; another 1/2 mile and the flag was put in not-recording at 10.48. It waited for v10 minutes, traveled mile, waited 10 minutes, traveled '1/8 mile and at 11.17 the flag was put in the vacant position. Y A

The fact that the cab was operated with the flag in the not-recording position means that no money was registered on t-he meter for waiting time.-

The cab then traveled 2% miles with flag up and waited for 40 minutes from 11.34 to 12.14.

The record is continued until the days work is completed.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the present device may be quickly and Conveniently set to meet the conditions of the particular record. and all movements and stops of the cab throughout the period away from the garage may be readily checked up at a glance. With a record of the character provided on the tape T and the present reading device it is impossible for the taxicab driver to waste time, and a complete control of the ope-ration of the car is obtained whether the cab is cruising with the object of pickin up calls, or whether it, is being operated rom designated sta-nds.

The small hole :l: at the lower margin of the tape indicates that the cover of the recording instrument was closed while the holes y punched near the top edge of the tape indicate that the (lag was operated to start an earning trip. In other words each time the flag ismoved from vacant into recording position ,a holey is punched in the upper part of the tape,th e record from then on being made on the lower part of the tape, namely the record A. i'

Also, as heretofore explained, the s eed of the lvehicle ma be indicated by app ying a speed scale to t e oblique lines.

Figure 7 shows a tape T `with only the longitudinal distance lines 15* printed thereon, the time lines being omitted, and necessitating the use of the. resent reading device to graphically decip erthe same.

Upon reading the tape with thepresent device the opera-tor can readily determinev the following Starting time of each trip; linishing time of each t'ripf; mileaofe of. each trip; number, length and time of, stops on each trip; speed traveled at any time; time the flag was put up, dist-ance tra'veled and. time spent with flag -`up,amou'ntfof unpaid waiting time; andthe time and'dis'tance traveled with .the flagV in not recording position. 'l

l/Vithout further description it'is thought that the features vand advantages of the invention .will be readily. apparent to those skilled in the art and it will ofcourse beunderstood that changes in the form, proportion and other details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

l claim l. A reading device for unprinted tapes including a tape holder having a time scale including a relatively adjustable hour indicator arranged at one side thereof, a delineated distance scale adapted to be superimposed on the tape, and index lines for the time scale crossing the delineations of the distance scale.

2. A reading device for unprinted record tapes including a holder for the tape, a time scale arranged at one side of the holder and includingr a relatively adjustable hour indicator. and a dist-ance scale adapted to be superimposed on the tape within the tape holder.

3. A reading device for unprinted record tapes including a holder for the tape, a time scale arranged atone side of the holder and l Uf) including a relatively adjustable hour indicator, :and 'a distance scale adapted to be superimposed on the tape within the tape Holder, having thereon crossing time and dis'tzincc lines.

1. A reading device for imprinted record tapes including :i (ape gnidcway, 'a time sci-ile :ii-ranged al' fue edge of the guidcway and including ii far-e platc. having openings and (lie spat-'s 'between the openings provided with a `niin'iite scale including numerals indicating subdivisions (if the hour, :in hour iddiator having numerals representing h'ur's of the day irrafng'ed thereon in succ'ssive order whereby lh'e hours will appear iii 'iro'pr `order through 'the openings when cf sind haar n'deawr les been ser, animsparent cover for the gu'id'evay, a distance sl "comprising tequally spaced longitudirial lines arranged on s'aid transparent co'ver, and minute li'es crossing'the longitudinal di'staiic lii'snd projected 'to register 'vith tlie'liitrnefrals 'of the ininute'scale.

5. reading device fdr u'ip'rinted record tapes incldin'g t-'ap'e' holder and a transparent 'cover t'li'erefr; a tinle 'sca'l 'arranged at dne'edge ofthe t'ape holder and including a iiiask having openings and a strip 'bearing nurn'erals indicating hors of the vday in p'lro'er sequence, and minute scales iu the s tiges between the openings; longitudinal stance lines iin the 'transparent cov'eigand transverse niiniite lines also on said transpa're'nt cover and projected to read on the figures of the ni'inte scales.

6. ra'din'g device fr unp'rinted record tapes including a support having means pro'- viding a tape 'gi'deivziy, a channel formed at orte side of the t`ap`e guidevv'ay, a vface plat havinglpenings overlying the channel, a strip' adapted to besliifttl in said ch'nnel an'd provided with numerals indicating houlrs Of th'e day, said strip adapted to be shifted in lthe channel whereby successive Hour numerals {vill'b'e displayed th'roligh tite openings while the intervening numerals ivill bemasked by the face plate.

7. A 'reading 'device for u'np'rinted record t-:ipe's il'fc'liidingi 's'n'ppo'rt having means providing a tap'e guideway, a faceplate; a frctional hour scale provided at'the edge ofthe face plate, a transparent -meriib'er having ln'f gitudinal and transverse lines thereon and :adapted to be positioned over'the tape guideway, the said longitudinal linesreprsentiiig' fractions of a mile and the `said transverse incs nuirkin'g ofi' subdivisions 'ofan'hoitn S. A reading device, ornnprinted having r'ec'ord =lines tliereorr,.'comprilsirrnfl unnhined time and distance scale adap to be superimposed ontheta'pe, `Said time sc'le including 'an adjustable h''ur indicatorf 9. A reading device for tapes favingrrec oril lines thereon indicating the movementof a 'cab during its workingiperidisd-devce including a time scale comprising-murarie. ju'stable-h'our indicator and minute scale. l

10. A reading"` device for un'p'rintedJ record tapes including'a'casing'a Basezfwthr .said casing, -a frame hinged (go-:said baser-,'21 transparent -plate 'carried said r'azme l'iid provided with horizontal lines representing.

distance and vertical lines represent' '.titxfle, :i -gguideway secured tofs'aid4 b'se an ,-:provided `with a channel, a. lfacelilatel'ivrg' apertures therein overlying i tlfe fsidgfhnnel. an adjustable-hour indcator-fsldaflle umn sin chiama-1 'said ,adusmliiehoaf indicator being provided wth'rluinerals in di'cati'ng-hou'rs of tHe' day-improper mmc-.; .so that successive hours will appear beneath apertures in the said face plate; 'said se plate being fpro'videdvwith inin-ute'scales in the places between the said aperturgra'ifd iiefrs Wherbya tapezwi'll B'e held'sinl'prper p'os'itioi' relative to the lines 'dn'th'e tiazs parent plate.

1-1. In a reading deviee fr tapes; an :iidjustable li'ou'r indicator provided withtazpura'lityof groups vof numbers, each .bf which groups of numbers consists p-mi'mbers from 1 to 12 inclusive', and -plftehii-vin'g indications thereon refir'sentxg 'tni'n'iites' 'In testimony 'wheof I hereunto ffdx my signature.

JLIS omen 

